Fishing Highlight of the Week: When fishing in winter, it is essential to add a few safety precautions to your fishing routine:

1) Always tell someone exactly where you're fishing and when you will return.

2) Always carry your cell phone in a waterproof case or ziplock bag in your pocket to make sure it stays with you and stays dry in case of a spill.

3) Always keep a dry change of clothes on board the boat in case you get wet.

Arkansas and White river levels are available at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk

For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

For water quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality

For Family and Community Fishing Program: All Family and Community Fishing Program trout locations have been stocked. Each location has a few trout with fluorescent pink tags. Anyone catching a tagged fish should keep the fish and call the number on the tag for directions on how to turn their tag in for a special prize from the AGFC.

Central Arkansas

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

(Updated 1-22-2014) Bates Field and Stream (501-470-1846) said bream are biting well on redworms throughout the lake. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs fished under the Highway 89 Bridge and at Gold Creek. Catfishing is fair on live or prepared bait around the Highway 89 Bridge.

(Updated 1-22-2014) Daniel Zajac at Gold Creek Landing (501-607-0590) said crappie biting fairly well on chartreuse and electric chicken jigs and pink minnows fished with patience along and off the banks 2-4 feet deep early and late in the day. Once the sun is up, fish brush piles in 9 feet of water. Bream fishing is fair on redworms on the bottom in deeper holes.

Little Red River

(Updated 1-22-2014) Lindsey’s Resort (501-302-3139) said the water has been very high. No report.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Lowell Myers of Sore Lip ’em All Guide Service had no report.

Greers Ferry

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 462.18 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 462.04 msl).

(Updated 1-22-2014) Tommy Cauley of Fish Finder Guide Service said the water level is falling, and the surface temperature is in the high 30s to low 40s.The river walleye are staging for their spawn and are on the move due to longer days, the lake walleye are just hanging out in the lake. The bite is slow overall, but the river fish will feed fairly well soon, as they can spawn in 43 degree water. Try slow trolled crankbaits and jigs tipped with minnows. The bass fishing is good if you can find them; the best baits are crankbaits and Alabama rigs fished in 45-50 feet of water. No report on catfish. Crappie are suspended in the timber and over brush piles in 15-25 feet of water and will bite Road Runners and jigs tipped with minnows. No report on bream. The hybrid and white bass are still biting fairly well in different parts of the lake on hair jigs, spoons, in-line spinners and swim baits; they are staging for their spawn. Try looking for bait and fish from 43 to 70 feet deep.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Jeff Mays of Anglers Outpost Guide Service (501-253-1905) had no report.

Harris Brake Lake

(Updated 1-8-2014) Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) had no report due to the extreme cold.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Jolly Roger’s Marina had no report due to the extreme cold.

(Updated 1-22-2014) Hatchet Jack’s Sport Shop (501-758-4958) said crappie are fair in 20 to 30 feet of water on minnows and jigs. Bass are fair on spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged soft plastics early in the morning and late at night. Catfishing is fair on shad, chicken hearts, chicken livers, worms and green sunfish.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Lisa's Bait Shop in Benton (501-778-6944) had no new report.

Arkansas River at Morrilton

(Updated 1-8-2014) River Valley Outdoors had no report due to the extreme cold.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Charley’s Hidden Harbor at Oppelo said a few catfish anglers have been doing well in deep holes on a worm/shad combination. There have been a lot of ducks along the river the last few days and hunting has been excellent.

(Updated 1-15-2014) Vince Miller from Fish ’N Stuff said a few reports on crappie have come in. They seem to be biting on black/chartreuse jigs at the ends of the jetties. No other report for the river.

(Updated 1-22-2014) Sportsman’s White River Resort (870-453-2424) said there were very few anglers out last week because of the extreme cold.

(Updated 1-22-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the catch-and-release section below Bull Shoals Dam is closed to fishing until January 31, and the state park area is seasonal catch-and-release for the same time. Night fishing is prohibited in this area during this period as well. The hot spot on the lower water was Roundhouse Shoals. The hot flies were Y2Ks, prince nymphs, zebra midges (black with silver wire and silver bead or red with silver wire and silver bead), pheasant tails, ruby midges, pink and cerise San Juan worms, and sowbugs. Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective (try a cerise or pink San Juan worm with a midge pattern suspended below it). The U.S. Corps of Engineers has been running significantly more water most of the week, benefiting streamer fishing. To do this you need at least an 8-weight fly rod, a heavy sink-tip fly line and large articulated streamers. The idea is to bang the bank and strip the fly back to the boat. This is heavy work and requires advanced casting skills. Some effective patterns are sex dungeons and circus peanuts.

Buffalo River

(Updated 1-22-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. With the cold temperatures, the smallmouth are very inactive. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.

Crooked Creek

(Updated 1-22-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service said the Buffalo National River and Crooked Creek are high and off color. With the cold temperatures, the smallmouth are very inactive. The most effective fly has been a tan and brown Clouser minnow. Carefully check the water level before entering Crooked Creek or the Buffalo River. There are no dams on these streams. They both have large drainages and are prone to flooding during and following any rain event. The water can rise very quickly.

Bull Shoals

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 659.43 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 654 msl).

(Updated 1-15-2014) Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters said Norfork Lake has risen 1 foot over normal pool. The water temperature is in the low 40s. The water visibility is stained and the shad moved up the creeks. The best spots to find bait and stripers are Panther and Float Creeks. When you mark the shad, put your live bait above the shad and just move very slowly following the shad. You may not mark many fish but the stripers will follow the bait some time during the day. Patience is very important this time of year. One friend fished Point 4 but did not mark any stripers, so he moved to a different spot. Another friend stayed and limited out when the stripers moved in and started biting. Look for stripers in Float Creek, Panther Bay, the Blue Lady dock area near Howard Cove, Bidwell Point, and in front of Lake Norfork Marina in Henderson. Expect to find stripers, hybrids and whites in 40 to 100 feet of water. The best bait will be shiners and spoons. Look for schools of shad and you will find stripers. The crappie are biting on minnows small spoons and jigs on brush piles in 30 feet of water. The cold water has moved the walleyes back to the deep holes. Once the water begins to warm they will begin to make their move up the river to begin the spawning run. The best bite in the river is at night using stick baits.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Lou Gabric of Hummingbird Hideaway Resort said all species of fish are being caught in big numbers. Live bait and artificial baits are working. Several species of fish and bait are not in their normal winter pattern. What has been typical for past winters is large amounts of bait suspended about 40-60 feet down in the old river channel in 80-150 feet of water. Normally stripers, hybrids and whites are above, under or inside of the bait balls. Other species, such as crappie and black bass will start to migrate to deep 40- to 50-foot deep brush and hang out throughout winter.

(Updated 1-15-2014) Guide Steve Olomon said the lake level is 554.3 and the water temperature is in the mid-40s. There are some bass up on the banks that will hit a crankbait. It's better if there is some wind blowing onto the bank. Try throwing suspending jerk baits, too. For deeper bass, throw a jig and if you mark suspended fish drop a jigging spoon. Look for stripers, hybrids and whites down at least 40 feet deep, and get your bait down to them or just above them. Look in the major creeks and if you see gulls, fish close to them.

Norfork Tailwater

(Updated 1-22-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said there has been some wadable water. The most productive flies have been small midge patterns like zebra midges (black or red with silver wire and silver bead). Double-fly nymph rigs have been very effective. Try a small beadheaded nymph (zebra midge, copper John or pheasant tail) suspended 18 inches below a brightly colored San Juan worm (hot fluorescent pink or cerise). There have been reliable hatches of small midges and caddis (try a size 22 Adams parachute).The fishing is much better in the morning and late afternoon and tapers off midday. Some anglers have been fishing heavy articulated streamers on sink tip lines to great effect. The siphon to accommodate minimum flow was damaged during our most recent winter storm and is not functioning.

There have been reports of a minor shad kill on the Norfork tail water below Norfork Dam and conditions have been conducive on both rivers. This is a natural phenomenon where threadfin shad in the lake die and are drawn through the generators at the dam. These bits of shad produce a feeding frenzy. This usually occurs during extremely cold weather and high levels of generation. Watch for gulls hitting the shad as they come through the generators. The best flies are white shad patterns. The conditions are promising for a shad kill on both the White and Norfork Rivers. Dry Run Creek has been virtually abandoned. Now would be a great time to take a kid fishing. Many brown trout have moved into the creek.The hot flies have been sowbugs, Y2Ks and various colored San Juan worms (worm brown, red, hot fluorescent pink and cerise). Use at least 4X tippet (I prefer fluorocarbon) to maximize your youngsters chance at landing a big one. Take great care to dress your children properly for the cold weather. Take frequent breaks to warm them up.

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 1,120.70 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 1,120 msl).

(Updated 1-22-2014) Bailey’s Beaver Lake Guide Service (479-366-8664) said Beaver lake striper are on the prowl for warmer water and food. For the most part, stripers are using main lake structures and secondary points. Live shad in the 4- to 6-inch range fished on down lines 0-60 feet deep are working fairly well. Anglers should also try small umbrella rigs with white grubs, Bomber 15a’s, Rapala #14 Husky Jerks and Smithwick Rogues with black or purple backs are working fairly well trolled in deep water. Jigging spoons on main lake humps and points as well as casting spoons to schooling fish in the same areas. Lost Bridge South is a hot spot. Be sure to check main lake structures between Lost Bridge and Fish Trap Hollow. Point 5 is holding excellent numbers of stripers as well as walleye. Point 6 is another hot spot; be sure to check near Twin Coves in the Van Hollow area. The warmer spring water from the Rambo Creek Arm has a lot of stripers in this are and ready to feed. At Larue, stripers are being taken in Cedar Creek Ford Creek and Goat Island. Also be on the lookout for stripers in Prairie Creek and Coose Hollow for some good numbers of stripers. Most walleye are being caught about 10-30ft deep and can be caught on trolled Hot-N-Tots, Wiggle Warts, Rapala Tail Dancers, Shad Raps, Reef Runners or Ripsticks. Slow Death rigs worked slowly on bottom bouncers in the same areas will work as well. Jigging spoons 25-30 feet deep around brush and rock piles are always producing.

(Updated 1-22-2014) Southtown Sporting Goods (479-443-7148) said some crappie can be caught on minnows in the river and around brush in water 8 to 12 feet deep. Jerk baits seem to be attracting a few bass, but other than that, there's no report. The surface water temperature has been in the high 30s to low 40s.

(Updated 1-15-2014) Jason Piper of JT’s Crappie Guide Service (479-640-3980) said the annual shad kill is in full swing; lots of birds are feeding on dying threadfin shad. Bass can be caught by fishing a suspending jerk bait slowly through timber along chunk rock to gravel banks. A Wiggle Wart has also worked well fished slowly along chunk rock banks. A jig-and-craw combo has worked well along bluffs and around docks. Both Clifty Arms, Rambo, Ventris, around the islands and Monte-Ne have all been good places to find bass. Crappie can be found suspending just below the surface to 10 feet deep over 20 to 50 feet of water under docks, bluff walls and timber lines on sunny, warm days from late morning on as the water warms through the 40s. They tend to suspend just out of the direct sunlight in an attempt to stay warm. A Bobby Garland Baby Shad or a 1.5-inch tube on a 1/32-oz. jighead swam slowly through the school has worked well. A minnow under a cork will work as well. On cold or cloudy days, or days the water temps fail to climb through the 40s, fish will retreat into brush piles or nose up close to pole timber 15 to 45 feet deep. Monte-Ne, upstream from War Eagle Marina, Horseshoe Bend and Eden Bluff have all been good places to find crappie. White bass have been holding off main lake flats at the break and on main lake points. For the most part they have been suspending 15 to 30 feet deep in 25 to 50 feet of water. Once a school is located, a ½-oz jigging spoon fished vertically very slowly should do the trick. Not many reports on catfish. Best bank action should be at Hickory Creek or the 412 Bridge access using liver or worms.

Beaver Tailwater

(Updated 1-22-2014) Scott Branyan at Ozark Fly Flinger said Beaver Lake is expected to reach conservation pool on Thursday. Table Rock is at 915 msl, making Beaver tailwater a little more wade friendly now when generation is off. With dry conditions, we ought to see a gradual lessening of generation over the next week, especially if there is some warmer weather. Both units have been running early in the morning and again late in the afternoon most days, although water ran more continuously this past weekend with the drawdown. Water temperature continues to drop on the lakes and in the tailwaters, and we are seeing some temps below 45 degrees. This means we will likely start to see a shad kill develop over the next few weeks. Fish have been more responsive to white streamers lately during the higher flows, and this seasonal trend will continue over the next month or so on all the tailwaters. At low water, scuds, sowbugs, attractor nymphs and dark bodied Zebra Midges in sizes 16-20 have been working well. Beaver is in many ways a technical midge fishery. When fish are finicky, remember to size down your tippet to 6x or 7x on the smaller midges and use the smallest indicator that will still float your beadhead midge, generally setting fly depth to be several inches off the bottom.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Beaver Dam Store said there has been some excellent fishing on the tailwater between cold snaps. Olive, black and red midges are working well, as are Woolly Buggers and soft hackles. Nickle and gold Colorado spoons are working well for spin-fishermen and Gulp maggots on a micro-jig are also producing. White and yellow Power Bait is working well for the bait anglers.

Lake Elmdale

(Updated 1-22-2014) Lucky Key at Duck Camp Fishing Retreat said there may still be a little ice in some of the coves, but most of the lake is clear. This time of year, the bass are deep. Most fishermen are working the areas in the mid-lake range, as well as along Harmons Bluff by vertically jigging a spoon. But don't overlook the old road bed, if the wind will allow you to stay on the deeper side of it. Another excellent option is a black/blue jig and pig crawled along the bottom in 10 to 18 feet of water. You may only get one bite all day, but chances are, it'll be a big one. Crappie fishermen are using a small black jig tipped with a crappie nibble. Fish 12-20 feet in areas with any brush on them. The bite will be very light, so keep your eye on the line.

(Updated on 1-22-2014) Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock (479-444-3475) said crappie are biting well on minnows and jigs. The water is clear and the surface water temperature is 40 degrees. No report on any other species.

Prairie Grove Lake

(Updated on 1-8-2014) Dennis Kruse (479-444-3475) said the lake is closed until March 2014.

Northeast Arkansas

Lake Poinsett

(Updated 1-22-2014) Lake Poinsett State Park said last weekend proved too much for most anglers to bear. Many fishermen were on the lake. Most bought redworms, minnows, nightcrawlers and artificial crappie bait. No one stopped back to give a report, but the fishing should be picking up soon.

Crown Lake

(Updated 1-8-2014) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) had no report.

Lake Frierson

(Updated 1-15-2014) Lake Frierson State Park said the lake has thawed and some anglers have been out during the last few warmer days. A few small catfish were caught on worms and a couple crappie have been caught on minnows. The weather is right for the saugeye to begin biting; the last state record was caught Jan. 30, 2012 at Lake Frierson. Try crankbaits, jerk baits, minnows or other shad imitators throughout the lake at different depths to locate the fish.

Spring River

(Updated 1-22-2014) Mark Crawford with Spring River Flies and Guides said water levels are running at 400 cfs and water clarity is partly cloudy. The river was clear the first part of last week but then became cloudy as the week progressed. The brown trout have been biting very well on black woolly buggers and grandma’s brownies. Y2K's have been working great for the rainbows. Hot pink and chartreuse Trout Magnets and white and black Rooster Tails are hot for spin fishing. It has been a cold winter and the trout are loving it.

(Updated 1-22-2014) Berry Brothers Guide Service (870-453-2424) said the water level on the Spring River is clearer and quite fishable. This is a great place to wade fish when they are running water on the White and Norfork Rivers. Be sure to wear cleated boots and carry a wading staff. There is a lot of bedrock that can get very slick. The hot flies have been olive woolly buggers with a bit of flash, cerise and hot pink San Juan worms, and Y2Ks.

Southeast Arkansas

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff Pool)

(Updated 1-8-2014) The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Bass Team had no report.

Cane Creek Lake

(Updated 1-8-2014) Geoff Wright at Cane Creek State Park had no report.

Lake Chicot

No report.

Southwest Arkansas

Millwood Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation at 259.30 feet msl (normal conservation pool – 259.2 msl).

(Updated 1-22-2014) Mike Siefert at Millwood Lake Guide Service said the lake level is 4 inches above normal conservation pool and falling. There is decreased current of Little River with the gates releasing around 10,000 CFS as of Friday. Lots of debris is coming down Little River with the increased release and current at the dam. Surface temperatures range 42 to 45 degrees. Clarity and visibility ranges 5-8 inches, depending on location and current. Bass became slightly more active with warmer daytime high temperatures and slightly higher water temps. Jigs, Magnum Tubes with rattles, suspending jerk baits, and slow moving crankbaits remain the best bet. Tail spinners such as Rat-L-Traps Spin Traps, Little Cleos. Jigging spoons on points with timber or stumps were taking a few bass, but water clarity and current kept most of the fish behind the points or scattered and deeper. Cordell Red Fins, Smithwick Rouges, and suspending jerk baits worked very slowly were catching some nice fish over the past couple weeks. Large, 1-oz. Rat-L-Traps worked much slower and deeper in the creek channels, over the past few weeks, have been taking some 2-4 pound largemouths as well. Get as far away from river current and muddy water and locating water temperatures 2-4 degrees warmer, seems to be key in locating bass in a feeding mood. Real Deal Custom Tackle jigs are working in deeper sections of creek channels in same areas as the magnum size tubes. Best colors of jigs over the past week continue to be the Texas Craw, Voodoo, or Okeechobee Spice. Rattles help the Largemouths to find the jigs and tubes in the stained but improving, water clarity. White bass disappeared with all the muddy water and current in Little River. Crappie are scattered with the muddy current in the river. Catfish continue biting well with the current around 10,000CFS in Little River. Cut buffalo, carp or other rough fish, chicken hearts and gizzards were working on trotlines set in outer bends of increased current from 12-15 feet deep.

Lake Greeson

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 543.58 feet msl (Flood pool – 548 msl).

For more information on crappie fishing at Lake Greeson, visit www.actionfishingtrips.com/tripreports.htm.

Lake Greeson Tailwater (Little Missouri River)

Visit www.littlemissouriflyfishing.com for a daily update on fishing conditions.

DeGray Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 406.94 feet msl (flood pool – 408 msl).

(Updated 1-22-2014) Local angler George Graves said surface water temperature is in the low 40s and the lake is clear in the lower end and muddy from Point 14 on up. Not much to report this week due to the inclement weather and muddy water. Most of the fish in DeGray migrate to the upper end of the lake in the winter because that is where the shad are. The lake is extremely muddy in the entire upper end. Couple the muddy water with cold and this means slow fishing in a normally clear lake. Bass fishing is very slow with only a few single-digit catches reported. The best pattern for bass now is at mid-lake in the Arlie Moore and Caddo Drive areas where the water is not muddy. Fish a Texas- or Carolina-rigged worm or lizard very slowly and deep off main lake points with any cover. Also try Big Hill Creek and the sides of the old creek channel. Another good pattern is to slowly drag a heavy jig with a craw trailer. Darker colors work best for all the plastics. No reports on crappies mainly because very few are fishing for them right now. Hybrid fishing is poor because they are mostly in the muddy water between Point 15 and the west end of Goat Island. Plenty of fish are marking on the sonar, but the water is just too muddy for them to bite. White bass fishing is experiencing the same problem. If and when the water clears. No reports on bream or catfish mainly because very few fishermen.

South-Central Arkansas

Moro Bay

Moro Bay State Park at the junction of the Ouachita River, Raymond Lake and Moro Bay, had no report this week.

Ouachita River Oxbows

Jaret Rushing had no new report.

Tri-County Lake

Jaret Rushing had no report this week.

White Oak Lake

(Updated 1-22-2014) Stacey Jackson at White Oak Lake State Park said crappie are still biting on jigs and minnows. Bream are biting on worms. No report on catfish at this time.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Nimrod

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 350.22 feet msl (flood pool – 373 msl).

(Updated 1-22-2014) Good Ole Boys Trading Post (479-272-4710) said the water dirtied up pretty badly with the change in the weather. Fishing is slow for all species. A few very small crappie can be caught below the dam.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said bream are slow on redworms, nightcrawlers and Rock Hopper jigs. Catfishing is slow on stinkbait and livers. Bass are slow on dark-colored worms, spinnerbaits and Rooster Tails.

Fourche La Fave River

(Updated 1-8-2014) Whiskers Sporting Goods in Perryville (501-889-2011) said the river is stained. Crappie are slow on trolled Bandit and Bomber crankbaits and on Bobby Garland lures in Cajun cricket, pink cotton candy, barbecue chicken and blue/white. Catfish are slow on stink bait, livers and minnows. Bass are slow on tequila sunrise worms, spinnerbaits, Rooster Tails and drop-shot worms.

Lake Hinkle

Bill’s Bait Shop (479-637-7419) had no report this week.

Lake Dardanelle

(Updated 1-22-2014) Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said fishing is still tough. Stick to the head of the creeks and the outlet of the nuclear plant and clear backwater areas, and fish jerk baits, jigs and Alabama rigs. I was able to take crappie, largemouth, spotted bass and striped bass on these baits and a very slow presentation.

Blue Mountain Lake

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 388.14 feet msl (flood pool – 419 msl).

Lake Ouachita

As of Wednesday, the Army Corps of Engineers reports the lake’s elevation was 576.92 feet msl (flood pool – 578 msl).

(Updated 1-22-2014) Todd Gadberry at Mountain Harbor Resort said the surface water temperature is 38 to 42 degrees and the water clarity is good. Black bass are biting well on football head jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Stripers are very good and still being caught on grubs, hair jigs and Alabama rigs in major creek basins. Crappie are slow and being caught near brush in the 20-25 foot range with minnows or crappie jigs. No report on walleye, bream or catfish.

Lake Hamilton

(Updated 11-13-2013) The annual winter drawdown for Lake Hamilton is complete. The lake will be held at 5 feet below summer pool until March 2014.

(Updated 1-8-2014) Trader Bill's Outdoor Sports in Hot Springs had no new report.

(Updated 1-22-2014) Shane Goodner, owner of Catch’em All Guide Service said flood gates have been open below Carpenter Dam for days in an effort to keep area lakes at winter pool. The gates were finally shut, but the last week's report is similar to the week before. Heavy flows have made the tailrace dangerous to navigate and nearly impossible to fish. However, reduced flows have been scheduled later this week which should make the lake much safer and more productive. Rainbow trout numbers are very good and will increase dramatically in the next two weeks. Despite the conditions, bank fishermen have caught trout on orange or white Power Bait. Wax and meal worms combined with a marshmallow floater have also worked well. Fly-fishermen casting San Juan worms and micro-jigs with a strike indicator in areas of less current have caught some nice limits of trout this week. Egg patterns are a key fly presentation when forage is plentiful and bites are difficult to come by. Boaters have stayed below the bridge and trolled shallow-running crankbaits against the current. Minnow or crawfish imitators are best as trout actively search for these prey items in the tailrace. White bass have also been caught trolling but schools are small and difficult to find in the heavy current. Striper activity is very slow, but could explode as trout stockings increase. Large topwater lures such as the C-10 Redfin, Super Spook, and soft plastics hooked weightless are excellent presentations for these powerful predators.

Lake Atkins

(Updated 1-8-2014) Lucky Landing (479-641-7615) had no report.

East Arkansas

Bear Creek Lake

(Updated 1-8-2014) Mississippi River State Park had no new report.

Storm Creek Lake

(Updated 1-8-2014) Mississippi River State Park had no report.

White River

(Updated 1-8-2014) Triangle Sports (870-793-7122) had no report due to the cold temperatures..

Maddox Bay

(Updated 1-8-2014) Maddox Bay Landing (870-462-8317) had no report due to the cold..